Synchronizing media presentation at multiple devices

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device to perform operations including determining a target playback latency not less than a greater of a first playback latency of a streaming media signal at a first media processor and a second playback latency of the first media signal at a second media processor. The streaming media signal includes a first in-content reference. A coordinated playback time is determined according to the target playback latency. A buffer, when adjusted by a buffer value, causes the first in-content reference to be encountered at a coordinated time during playback by the first media processor, which results in a synchronized playback of the streaming media between the first and second media processors. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/919,765, filed Oct. 22, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/068,916 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,210,204), filedOct. 31, 2013. The contents of each of the foregoing are herebyincorporated by reference into this application as if set forth hereinin full.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to a synchronizing media presentation atmultiple devices.

BACKGROUND

Traditional wide-area broadcast media, such as television and radio,deliver media content simultaneously to a large number of mediareception devices within a broadcast area of coverage. The multiplemedia reception devices within the broadcast area of coverage, e.g.,multiple televisions and/or radios, would all receive the broadcastmedia content at the same time, such that the received broadcast mediacontent would be processed, e.g., decoded, demodulated, and presented toviewers and/or listeners at the same time. Consequently, all mediareception devices within the broadcast area of coverage that arereceiving the same content, e.g., tuned to the same channel, would beperceived as being synchronized with respect to each other. By way ofillustrative example, consider the television display area of anelectronics store in which multiple televisions are tuned to the samestation—the audio and video appear to be synchronized. The same would betrue for multiple media reception devices within a viewer's/listener'shome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of synchronized media playbacknetwork layout;

FIG. 2 depicts, in more detail, an illustrative embodiment of a portionof the synchronized media playback network layout described in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a process used in portionsof the system described in FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative alternative embodiment of a process usedin portions of the system described in FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system thatprovide media services with synchronized media playback as described inFIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with the synchronized media playback networks of FIGS. 1-2and the communication system providing media services with synchronizedmedia playback of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Digital technologies as applied to the distribution and processing ofmedia content can provide for improved quality, better management ofsignal bandwidth, and so forth. Unfortunately, such digital technologiescan introduce new issues that can lead to unsynchronized presentation ofmedia content at a common location, e.g., a home or television displayarea of an electronics store. Digital media content distribution systemsdo not necessarily ensure the type of playback synchronization that wasinherent in traditional broadcast technologies.

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments of determining playback latency values associated with astreaming media signal at each of a group of media processors,determining a target playback latency that is not less than a greater ofthe playback latency values, and determining a coordinated playback timeaccording to the target playback latency. Buffers associated with thegroup of media processors are adjusted for each of the multiple mediaprocessors to cause a first in-content reference to be encountered atthe coordinated playback time during playback. Other embodiments areincluded in the subject disclosure.

The techniques disclosed herein allow an end user to experiencesynchronize playback of streaming media content across multiple mediaplayback devices, e.g., multiple media playback devices located withinthe user's home. Accordingly, presentation of streaming media on onemedia playback device are not played out ahead of another whensynchronized. For example, the user can select a “synchronize content”option on any of the media playback devices (set-top box, receiver,etc.) in their home. Selection of the option induces a synchronizationrequest that can be used to initiate a process by which all of the mediaplayback devices send decode time information to a synchronizationcontroller adapted to calculate time deltas for each of the mediaplayback devices. The time deltas can be used to determine time delaysthat when incorporated into presentation of the streaming media tend tosynchronize presentation of the media content among the media playbackdevices. Each media playback can receive an indication of the timedeltas information and add the corresponding latency, or delay, untilthey all synchronize and re-start play out at a specific time or mediaframe.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a process thatincludes receiving, by a controller including a processor, asynchronization request. In response to receiving of the synchronizationrequest the controller performs the following actions, includingdetermining a first playback latency of a streaming media signal at afirst media processor and a second playback latency of the streamingmedia signal at a second media processor. The controller determines agreater of the first and second playback latencies and determines,according to the greater of the first and second playback latencies, acoordinated playback time at which a first in-content reference is to beencountered during playback. A first buffer, when adjusted by a firstbuffer value, causes the first in-content reference to be encountered atthe coordinated time during playback by the first media processor.Likewise, a second buffer, when adjusted by a second buffer value,causes the first in-content reference to be encountered at thecoordinated time during playback by the second media processor. Thepreceding actions result in a synchronized playback of the streamingmedia between the first and second media processors.

Another embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a machine-readablestorage device. The machine-readable storage device includesinstructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operationsincluding determining a first playback latency of a streaming mediasignal at a first media processor and a second playback latency of thestreaming media signal at a second media processor. The operationsfurther include determining a target playback latency that is not lessthan a greater of the first playback latency and the second playbacklatency and determining a coordinated playback time, according to thetarget playback latency. A first buffer, when adjusted by a first buffervalue, causes a first in-content reference to be encountered at thecoordinated time during playback by the first media processor. Likewise,a second buffer, when adjusted by a second buffer value, causes thefirst in-content reference to be encountered at the coordinated timeduring playback by the second media processor. The preceding operationsresult in a synchronized playback of the streaming media between thefirst and second media processors.

Yet another embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a device thatincludes a memory to store executable instructions and a processorcoupled to the memory. The processor, responsive to executing theinstructions, performs operations that include determining a firstplayback latency of a streaming media signal at a first media processorand a second playback latency of the streaming media signal at a secondmedia processor. The operations further include determining a targetplayback latency not less than a greater of the first and secondplayback latencies, and a coordinated playback time, according to thetarget playback latency. A first buffer, when adjusted by a first buffervalue, causes a first in-content reference to be encountered at thecoordinated playback time during playback by the first media processor.Likewise, a second buffer, when adjusted by a second buffer value,causes the first in-content reference to be encountered at thecoordinated playback time during playback by the second media processor.The preceding operations result in a synchronized playback of thestreaming media between the first and second media processors.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a synchronized mediaplayback network 100. The network 100 includes a streaming media server108 providing media content by way of a streaming media signal to numberof media playback devices 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, 104 d, 104 e (generally104). The media playback devices 104 can be positioned at variouslocations within a vicinity of each other, e.g., within a home 102. Themedia playback devices 104 can be hard wired to a network, such as anin-home network 111, e.g., Ethernet, and/or in communication with awireless network, e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth. In some instances, a playbackdevice can include a mobile media playback device 106, such as a smartphone, a tablet device, or the like. It is foreseeable that such mobiledevices can also be operated within the home 102.

Streaming media services can be delivered by the streaming media server108 by way of a transport network 110, such as a packet-switchednetwork, e.g., the Internet, a cable network, analog and/or digitalsubscriber lines, e.g., using DSLAMs, satellite networks, or any othersuitable network or combination thereof adapted to transport streamingmedia content from the streaming media server 108 to the one or moremedia playback devices 104, 106. In some instances, streaming mediaservices can be delivered by way of a radio cellular network 112. Forexample, a radio cellular network provider can provide an internetgateway server 114 in communication with the streaming media server 108,e.g., through a terrestrial network, such as packet switched network,e.g., the transport network 110. It should be understood that deliveryof streaming media over such transport networks 110 can be accomplishedto a much wider community than the single home 102 in the illustrativeexample. For example, a local broadcast channel can be distributed to alarge number of homes and/or media devices within a local region, suchas a city, county or state. Alternatively or in addition, a nationalbroadcast channel can be distributed to homes and media devices across acountry.

Synchronization or timing discrepancies can result from one or moresources, such as differences in transport latency of streaming mediacontent from the streaming media server 108 to each of the differentmedia playback devices 104, 106. Alternatively or in addition,synchronization or timing discrepancies can result from media processingperformed at each of the media processors and the mobile media playbackdevice 106 resulting in a processing latency. Some examples of mediaprocessing performed at the media playback devices 104, 106 can includea decoding step, e.g., according to encoding and/or data compressionapplied at the streaming media server. Some examples of encoding includestandards adopted by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). Otherexamples include MP3. The decoded media can be rendered for presentationto a user or viewer, e.g., as audio, video and audio-video. Otherexamples of processing that can be applied, depending upon theapplication, include one or more of frame rate conversion, color spaceconversion, noise reduction, enhancement, motion compensation, colorcalibration, de-interlacing.

Without special provisions, it is possible for digital media contentdistribution and processing systems to allow in-home systems, e.g.,media playback devices 104 and mobile media playback devices 106, tobecome unsynchronized with respect to each other. Such a lack ofsynchronization can cause some systems, e.g., a first media playbackdevice 104 a in a living room to playback media content ahead of, orbehind, playback of the same media content on other systems, e.g., at asecond media playback device 104 d in a nearby family room. This lack ofsynchronization can create problems, particularly for live and timesensitive media content such as the ball drop at Times Square on NewYear's Eve, live sporting events, shows including reality shows andshows that incorporate viewer audience participation, such as AMERICANIDOL®, a trademark of FremantleMedia North America, Inc., streamingmusic channels, and other events. It is understandable that playback ofunsynchronized media content, e.g., at the same venue, can be disruptiveand essentially ruin the user experience, particularly for livepresentations when a result, timing and so forth are unexpected. By wayof illustrative example, one group of viewers of an event, such as theSUPER BOWL®, a registered trademark of the National Football League, atthe first media playback device 104 a in the living room of the home 102viewing the event ahead of the second media playback device 104 d in anearby family room can cause the viewers in the family room to realizebig plays before they happen, thereby eliminating the suspense andotherwise ruining the game experience.

Other examples in which such timing issues can occur while viewingin-home content, include listening to streaming music locally from apersonal media playback device, such as an iPod®, or remotely from astreaming media service such as Pandora®, e.g., using multiple audioplayback devices around the home 102. There are various ways to streammusic and various devices to stream with; however, similar timing issuecan result when the content, or song, plays out at different times ondifferent devices, causing issues with unsynchronized playback, e.g.,throughout the house.

The network 100 includes one or more synchronization controllers 116 a,116 b, 116 c (generally 116), shown in phantom. The synchronizationcontroller(s) 116 can operate, as disclosed herein, to coordinateplayback synchronization of a group of media playback devices 104, 106.The synchronization controller 116 can determine playback latenciesamong a group of media playback devices 104, 106, e.g., such as those ator near a home 102 or business (e.g., retail electronics store), orthose of any common viewer community or audience that can begeographically collocated or separate. The synchronization controller116 can further determine a coordinated playback time according to theplayback latencies, and disseminate the coordinated playback time orsimilar parameter to buffers associated with the media playback devices104, 106, to adjust playback of streaming media from the streaming mediaserver 108 one or more of the media playback devices 104, 106 such thatsynchronized playback is obtained among the group of media playbackdevices 104, 106.

In some embodiments, the synchronization controller 116 a can beprovided within a proximity of at least one of the media playbackdevices 104, 106 to be synchronized, e.g., within the home 102. Such alocal synchronization controller 116 a can be provided as a stand-aloneunit in communication with one or more of the media playback devices104, 106, e.g., through the in-home network 111. It is conceivable thatthe synchronization controller 116 a can be provided within at least oneof the media playback devices 104. Alternatively or in addition, thesynchronization controller 116 b can be provided as a network accessibledevice, e.g., in communication with the transport network 110. Such anetwork-accessible synchronization controller 116 b can be locatedwithin the home 102, or external to the home 102, as shown. In yetanother configuration, the synchronization controller 116 c can belocated at or within the streaming media server 108. It is understoodthat any of the synchronization controllers 116 can be configured toprovide synchronization to more than one group of media playback devices104, 106, e.g., servicing other homes in a similar manner, e.g., withcommon synchronization services according to all synchronized devices,or with synchronization services common only to each particular home,such that media playback devices 104, 106 within each of a number ofhomes provide synchronized playback with respect to each other, but notnecessarily with respect to media playback devices 104, 106 of anotherone of the homes receiving synchronization services.

The streaming media server 108 can be operated by a streaming mediaservice provider. Some example services include, without limitation,Internet television or Web television, Internet Protocol television(IPTV), catch-up TV, Internet radio. Other example services includeNetflix®, a registered trademark of NetFlix.com, Inc., Hulu Plus™, atrademark of Hulu, LLC, PBS®, a registered trademark of the PublicBroadcasting Service Corp., iTunes®, a registered trademark of AppleComputer, Inc., Amazon Prime® streaming, a registered trademark ofAmazon Technologies, Inc., and Vdio®, a registered trademark of PulserMusic Services, Inc. Examples of streaming media service providers caninclude, without limitation, such presently available music serviceproviders as Spotify®, a registered trademark of Spotify AB, Deezer®, aregistered trademark of Blogmusik, Napster®, a registered trademark ofRhapsody International, Inc., MySpace® Music, a registered trademark ofMySpace Inc., Blinkbox Music, Rdio®, a registered trademark of Rdio,Inc., Sony Music® unlimited, a registered trademark of Sony Corporation,Verdict, Play Music All Access, and Pandora® Internet Radio, aregistered trademark of Pandora Media, Inc.

FIG. 2 depicts, in more detail, an illustrative embodiment of a portionof the synchronized media playback network layout 200 described inFIG. 1. The system 200 includes a first media processor, e.g., playbackdevice 204 a, a second media processor, e.g., playback device 204 b anda synchronization (“sync”) controller 216. The first media playbackdevice 204 a includes a decoder 220 a, a buffer 222 a, a video module224 and an audio module 226 a. The decoder 220 receives a streamingmedia signal, e.g., from a streaming media server 208. An output of thedecoder 220 a is coupled to an input of the buffer 222 a. A first outputof the buffer 222 a is coupled to an input of the video module 224 a anda second output of the buffer 222 a is coupled to an input of the audiomodule 226 a. An output of the video module 224 a is coupled to an inputof a first video display 234 a. Likewise, an output of the audio module226 a is coupled to an input of a first audio playback system 236 a.

The first media playback device 204 a also includes one or more of asynchronization (“sync”) module 228 a, a reference timing source, suchas a reference clock 230 a and a user interface 232 a. The sync module228 a receives a first input from the sync controller 216 and a secondinput from the reference clock 230 a. The sync module 228 a is incommunication with the user interface 232 a, e.g., to allow a user tointeract with the sync module 228 a, e.g., to initiate synchronizationand/or to otherwise establish rules related to synchronization ofplayback between the first and second playback devices 204 a, 204 b.

In operation, a streaming media signal from the streaming media server208 is received at the first media playback device 204 a. The streamingmedia signal is decoded at the decoder 220 a, e.g., according to anencoding protocol applied by the streaming media server 208 or othersource of the media content. Examples of encoding protocols includethose according to standards determined by working groups or standardsbodies, such as the MPEG working group. An output of the decoder 220 ais temporarily stored and played out of the buffer module 222 a.Although a single buffer 222 is shown for both audio and video, it isconceivable that in at least some embodiments, separate video and audiobuffers can be used. The buffered video output is directed to the videoprocessing module 224 a, while the buffered audio output is directed tothe audio processing module 226 a. The video processing module canfurther process the video signal, including forwarding video frames tothe first video display 234 a for presentation to a user. The audioprocessing module 226 a can further process the audio signal, includingconverting digital audio to an analog audio signal for presentation atthe audio playback system 236 a.

The buffer module 222 a is adjustable according to the media inputreceived from the sync module 228 a. For example, a buffer length ordepth, e.g., a delay transit time for media traversing the buffer 222 a,can be adjusted according to the input from the sync module 228. Thedelay transit time can be determined as a time at which a particularmedia input, e.g., a video frame, is received at the buffer 222 a andthe time at which the particular media input is played out at the buffer222 a. The sync module 228 a is in communication with the synccontroller 216. Accordingly, the sync module 228 a can receive an inputfrom the sync controller 216 a, e.g., a coordinated playback timeassociated with an in-content reference. The sync module 228 a can alsoreceive an input from the decoder 220 a, e.g., indicating when thein-content reference has been encountered. The sync module 228 a candetermine a buffer depth according to a current buffer depth setting andthe coordinated playback time, and a local time reference 230 a.

The second media playback device 204 b also includes a decoder 220 b, abuffer 222 b, a video module 224 b and an audio module 226 b, a syncmodule 228 b, a reference clock 230 b and a user interface 232 b,configured similar to those disclosed above in relation to the firstplayback device 204 a. The streaming media signal from the streamingmedia server 208 is received at the second media playback device 204 band processed in a manner similar to the first media playback device 204a, with a significant difference being that the setting of the buffer222 b of the second media playback device 204 b can differ from thesetting of the buffer 222 a of the first media playback device 204 a.Likewise, a time at which the in-content reference is presented to thesync module 228 a of the first media playback device 204 a can differfrom a time at which the in-content reference is presented to the syncmodule 228 b of the second media playback device 204 b. Generally, thelocal time reference 230 a of the first media playback device 204 a willprovide the same time as the local time reference 230 b of the secondmedia playback device 204 b.

Although the buffers 222 are depicted between the decoder 200 and thevideo and/or audio modules 224, 226, it is understood that the buffers222 can be included at other locations. For example, the buffers 222 canbe located at an output of one or more of the video and audio modules224, 226. In at least some embodiments, one or more of the buffers 222can be located within the media playback device 204 as shown, orexternal to the media playback device 204. For example, the buffers 222could be provided within one or more of a standalone buffer module (notshown) or a gateway processor (e.g., 504, FIG. 5). Although video andaudio processors 224, 226 are shown, it is conceivable that one or moreof them could be unnecessary, e.g., the corresponding functionalitybeing provided by the decoder 220.

Once the buffers 222 a, 222 b have been suitably adjusted, such that thein-content reference is encountered at an output of the buffer 222 a,222 b at the prescribed coordinated playback time, presentation of thevideo at the first and second video displays 234 a, 234 b issynchronized. Likewise, presentation of the audio at the first andsecond audio playback systems 236 a, 236 b is also synchronized.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a process used in portionsof the system described in FIGS. 1-2. A synchronization request isreceived at 302. The synchronization request can be received at the synccontroller 216, either directly from the media processor 204 a or by wayof an intermediate device or module, such as the sync module 228 a. Thesynchronization request can be initiated by a user action, e.g.,selection of a synchronize option from a user interface 232 a of themedia playback device 204 a (FIG. 2). For illustrative purpose,reference is made to the first media playback device. For example, themedia processor 204 can include a media sync actuator, e.g., button, ona front panel. When actuated, e.g., depressed, the sync actuator causesa sync request message to be sent to one of a sync module 228 a, 228 bof the media processor 204 or the sync controller 216. As disclosedabove, the sync controller 216 can be incorporated into one or more ofthe media processors 204 or as a separate device, as illustrated in FIG.2.

Alternatively or in addition, the synchronization request can beinitiated by user selection of a menu item, e.g., that can be navigatedto and selected from a menu 238 displayed on the display 234 a.Alternatively or in addition, the synchronization request can resultfrom a predetermined event. Examples of such events include power-on,channel change, passage of a predetermined amount of time, e.g., aresynchronization time, access to stored media, e.g., use of a digitalvideo recorder. Other events that can be used to initiate aresynchronization command can include accessing by way of the mediaplayback device one or more of an electronic program guide, anapplication (“app”), accessing communication features, such as a voiceand/or video call, accessing a voice mailbox and so forth. It should beunderstood that although the features are disclosed in relation to thefirst media playback device 204 a, similar features can be implementedon the second media playback device, e.g., such that a synchronizationrequest can be initiated from either the first or second media playbackdevice.

Other events can be determined upon input from one or more sensordevices. Examples of some sensor devices include, without limitation,microphones, cameras, e.g., video cameras, light sensors, motionsensors, thermal sensors. Sensor input can be used, e.g., by the syncmodule 220 a and/or the sync controller 216, to determine whethersynchronization should be initiated, and in at least some instances, toidentify which device(s) should be synchronized, etc.

By way of illustrative example, an optional sensor 240 a (FIG. 2), suchas a microphone (shown in phantom), can detect audio within a vicinityof the first media processor 204 a. When the second media processor 204b is presenting media content, it is possible under certaincircumstances that the sensor 240 a can detect audio from the secondmedia processor 204 b. This can occur, e.g., when the audio output ofthe second media processor 204 b is within an audibly detectable range,e.g., earshot, of the first media processor 204 a. Whether audio fromthe second media processor 204 b is detectable at the first mediaprocessor 204 a can depend upon numerous factors, such as spatialseparation between the media processors 204 a, 204 b, a volume settingof the second media processor 204 b and environmental conditions, suchas whether doors between the media processors 204 a, 204 b areopen/closed, home/building construction details, etc.

In at least some embodiments, the media processors 204 a, 204 b cancommunicate with each other and/or with a sync controller 216. Suchcommunications can include information regarding one or more of a statusof the media processor 204 a, 204 b, e.g., whether the mediaprocessor(s) 204 a, 204 b are power-on, what channel(s) they are tunedto, volume setting(s), programming (e.g., DVR) details and so forth.Continuing with the illustrative example, the first media processor 204a can determine whether the second media processor 204 b is powered onand if so, whether it is tuned to the same channel, or otherwisepresenting the same media content (e.g., from a prior DVR recording) asthe first media processor 204. If so, then the first media processor 204can determine from the sensor 240 a, whether audio from the second mediaprocessor 204 b is perceptible within a vicinity, e.g., in the same roomas the first media processor 204 a. If so, then a synchronization can beinitiated to cause the media content to be presented in synchronization.Otherwise, synchronization may not be necessary.

In some embodiments, one of the first media processor 204 a or the synccontroller 216 can cause an identifying feature to be introduced toallow for a determination that detected audio at the sensor 240 a is infact resulting from audio presented at the second media processor 204 b.For example, an identifying sound, such as a momentary sound, e.g., apop, or a tone can be introduced locally, e.g., by the second mediaprocessor 204 b, into the presented audio portion of the media content.Other identifying features can be a change in volume, e.g., increaseand/or decrease, momentarily turning audio off, etc.

First and second playback latencies are determined at 304. In repose toone of the sync module 228 a or the sync controller 116 receiving thesynchronization request, the first media processor 204 a can determine afirst playback latency of a streaming media signal at the first mediaprocessor 204 a. For example, the sync module 228 a, whether receivingthe synchronization request directly, e.g., from the user interface 232a, or remotely from the sync controller 216, determines the firstplayback latency. Likewise, the second media processor 204 b candetermine a second playback latency of the streaming media signal at thesecond media processor 204 a. To the extent that the synchronizationrequest was initiated by a user at one of the media playback devices 204a, 204 b, an instruction or suitable indication or command can beprovided to the other device 204 a, 204 b, such that first and secondplayback latencies are determined for each of the devices. Theinstruction or command can be communicated, e.g., from one mediaplayback device 204 to another. Alternatively or in addition, theinstruction or command can be communicated from the sync controller 216to each of the media processors 204.

Determination of the playback latency can be accomplished, e.g., at themedia processor 204, by identifying a first playback time t₁ at which anin-content reference, e.g., provided within the streaming media, isencountered during playback at the first media processor. Likewise, asecond playback time t₂ is determined when the in-content reference isencountered during playback at the second media processor. The processis repeated for all playback devices in a group of playback devicesbeing synchronized, resulting in a number of playback latencies, one foreach media playback device.

Determination of a respective playback time can be accomplished at eachof media playback devices. For example, the sync module 228 a can beconfigured to identify when the in-content reference is encounteredduring processing of the streaming media signal. In particular, theplayback time provides an indication as to when media content at thein-content reference is displayed. For example, the sync module 228 acan determine or otherwise approximate when the in-content reference isreceived according to input obtained from one or more of the decoder 220a, the buffer 220 a, the video module 224 a, or the audio module 226 a.The sync module 228 a associates a time reference, e.g., from the localtime reference or clock 230 a with the display of the in-contentreference.

The sync controller 216 determines a first reference time to at whichthe in-content reference is available for network transport to each ofthe first and second media processors. For example, the first referencetime can be provided by one of the media server 208 a network transportdevice receiving media content from the media server, or a networkelement 210 in network communication between the media server 208 andthe media processors 204. The respective playback latencies di can bedetermined as a difference between the first reference time: Δ₁=t₁−t₀,Δ₂, t₂−t₀, etc. Determination of the playback latencies can beaccomplished, e.g., at the sync controller 216. Thus, the respectiveplayback times are conveyed from the respective sync modules 228 to thesync controller 216, which computes the respective playback latencies bydetermining the respective differences. Alternatively or in addition,the playback latencies can be determined at one or more of the syncmodules 228. In this instance, the first reference time is conveyed fromthe sync controller 216 to the sync module(s) 228, allowing the syncmodule(s) to determine the respective differences.

A target playback latency is determined at 306. The target playbacklatency can be determined by first determining a longest or greatest,e.g., maximum playback latency among all of the playback latenciesdetermined for the media playback devices being synchronized:Δ_(max)=MAX(Δ₁, Δ₂, . . . ). In some embodiments, a target playbacklatency can be determined as the greatest or longest playback latencyamong the playback latencies. For example, if Δ₁=0.3 seconds and Δ₂=0.7seconds, Δ_(MAX) is determined to be the greater value of the two, e.g.,Δ_(MAX)=0.7 seconds. A difference between each of the playback latenciesand the longest playback latency can be determined as an synchronizingvalue for each of the media playback devices. For example, asynchronizing value for the first media playback device can bedetermined as: Δ_(SYNC) _(_) ₁=Δ_(MAX)−Δ₁, or Δ_(SYNC) _(_) ₁=0.7−0.3sec., or Δ_(SYNC) _(_) ₁=0.4 sec. By adding the synchronizing value,Δ_(SYNC) _(_) ₁, to the playback latency of the first media playbackdevice, Δ₁, an adjusted offset can be determined for that device. Theadjusted offset would be: Δ₁+Δ_(SYNC)=0.3+0.4 sec=0.7 sec. Repeatingthis process for each of the other media playback devices produces arespective offset that when added to the respective playback latencyproduces an uniform or equivalent adjusted offset. The adjusted offset,e.g., 0.4 sec, can be introduced into the playback stream of the firstmedia playback device, e.g., by adjustment of a buffer or similar delaydevice, to realized synchronized playback between the first and secondplayback devices of the illustrative example. More likely, an additionaltime value δ is added, e.g., to accommodate for slight variations inoperation of the media buffers. Thus, the target latency can bedetermined according to the following relationship:Δ_(target)=Δ_(max)+δ. For a safe or padded value of 0.2 seconds, thetarget latency Δ_(target) would be 0.9 seconds (i.e., 0.7 seconds+0.2seconds).

In some embodiments, a coordinated playback time of a target in-contenttiming element is determined at 308 according to the target playbacklatency Δ_(target). The coordinated playback time t_(pb) can bedetermined, e.g., by adding the target playback latency to a secondreference time t₀′ corresponding to a time at which the targetin-content timing element is available for network transport:t_(pb)=Δ_(target)+t₀′. Preferably the second reference time isdetermined at the same location as the first reference time, e.g., atthe media server 208.

The coordinated playback time can be used to adjust a first buffer toplayback the in-content timing element at the first media processor atthe coordinated playback time 310. For example, the coordinate playbacktime t_(pb), if determined at the sync controller 216, is forwarded fromthe sync controller 216 to sync modules 228 in each of the mediaplayback devices 204. The sync modules 228 in each of the media playbackdevices 204 determines the target in-content reference, and havingpreviously determined its playback latency, adjusts the buffer 222 tomodify the playback latency such that the target in-content is presentedat the coordinated playback time. In some embodiments, the targetin-content reference is identified by the sync controller 216, e.g.,identifying a particular in-content reference, such as a frame, apresentation time stamp, a sound sample, or an MPEG transport streamaccess unit. The coordinated playback time is also used to adjustbuffers of other media playback devices being synchronized to playbackthe in-content timing element at the second media processor at thecoordinated playback time 312.

The local time reference or clock 230 can include a clock that isupdated or otherwise maintained to within a tolerable accuracy acrossmultiple media playback devices of a network 100, 200. It is common forsystem time to be disseminated in a network, e.g., by receiving updatesfrom a time server. The time server reads actual time from a referenceclock and distributes this information, e.g., according to a NetworkTime Protocol (NTP), or Simple NTP (SNTP), to clients using a computernetwork. Any time reference would not be subject to streaming mediaprocessing and thus not subjected to at least a portion of theprocessing delays being accounted for by the synchronization techniquesdisclosed herein.

The buffer 222 can include one of a video buffer, an audio buffer, or acombined video and audio buffer. A video buffer, e.g., can be configuredto buffer entire video frames, sending the video frames to the videomodule 224 for presentation at a display 234. Adjustment of the buffer,e.g., according to a buffer depth, can be used to control a time atwhich a particular video frame, or audio segment, is presented forplayback.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative alternative embodiment of a process usedin portions of the system described in FIGS. 1-2. A first playbacklatency is determined at a first media player at 404. The first playbacklatency di can be determined as a difference between a playback time t₁associated with an in-content reference provided within the streamingmedia signal and a reference time to at which the in-content referencewas provided for network transport to the media playback devices 204.The reference time can be received from another device, such as the synccontroller 216, the media server 208 or a network element 210.

The first playback latency is forwarded to the sync controller 216 at406. The sync controller 216 can calculate a coordinated playback timet_(pb), e.g., as disclosed above in reference to FIG. 4. The coordinatedplayback time of a target in-content timing element is received, e.g.,by the sync module 228 at 408. The first buffer 222 is adjustedaccording to coordinated playback time at 410. For example, the syncmodule 228 of each media processor identifies the target in-contentreference, and having previously determined the respective mediaprocessor's playback latency, adjusts the respective buffer 222 tomodify the respective playback latency such that the target in-contentis presented at the coordinated playback time at each of the mediaplayback devices. Accordingly, playback of the in-content timing elementoccurs at coordinated playback time at 412 for all of the synchronizedmedia playback devices.

Although the concept of a coordinated playback time tpb is disclosedabove, similar results are possible without necessarily determining thecoordinated playback time. In some embodiments, the individual playbacklatencies are conveyed to the sync controller 216 along with anidentity, e.g., a device identification, of the associated mediaplayback device. The sync controller 216, instead of calculating acoordinated playback time, can directly calculate buffer adjustments foreach of the media playback devices. The buffer adjustments can beprovided to the media playback devices allowing for the buffers to beadjusted thereby allowing for synchronized playback of the streamingmedia across all of the synchronized media processors.

The adjusted buffers can remain as adjusted above to allow for continuedsynchronized viewing of subsequent streaming media content at each ofthe synchronized media playback devices 204. The synchronization processcan be repeated as disclosed herein, e.g., periodically according to aschedule, according to a request for synchronized playback at 402. Therequest can result from one or more of user action, such as selection ofa sync command, or according to an event, such as channel change.

In some embodiments, a group of media playback devices are associated orotherwise identified as devices to be synchronized according to thetechniques disclosed herein. Such associations can be determined byvarious methods, such as predetermination, e.g., during a configurationor set-up procedure. A subscriber to a synchronization service canconfigure or otherwise identify media playback devices to besynchronized, e.g., in a user profile. The devices can include eachmedia playback device within the subscriber's home, the subscriber'smobile device(s) and/or mobile devices of others, such as thesubscriber's family members, roommates, friends, etc.

Other techniques for associating the group of media playback devices caninclude one or more of user profile information, subscriber accountinformation, e.g., media playback devices identified in a user accountof a subscriber to one or more of network services, e.g., cableservices, media delivery services, e.g., Netflix® and the like.Alternatively or in addition, the group of media playback devices can beassociated according to information from another source, such as aglobal positioning services receiver of one or more of the mediaprocessors 204, a network element, such as a gateway, a router orwireless access point, and the like.

Preferably, synchronization accomplished by the techniques disclosedherein is provided according to a predetermined accuracy. Thus,synchronization need not be absolute, but merely imperceptible by aviewer/listener. Since video frames are typically presented at a rate of30 frames per second, synchronization accuracy less than 1/30 secondwill ensure at least overlap of frame to frame. Likewise, slight delaysin audio synchronization can be perceived as an echo, synchronizationshould be within a fraction of a second, e.g., less than ¼ second, ⅛second, 1/10 second or less. Preferably, synchronization accuracy willbe measured in milliseconds, e.g., 100's, 10's or single digitmillisecond accuracies.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 500 for delivering media content. The communication system 500can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) media system.Communication system 500 can be overlaid or operably coupled with thesynchronized media playback network of FIGS. 1 and/or 2 as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 500. Playback latencyvalues associated with a streaming media signal can be determined foreach of a group of media processors. A target playback latency can bedetermined that is not less than a greatest one of the playback latencyvalues, and a coordinated playback time can be determined according tothe target playback latency. Buffers associated with the group of mediaprocessors can each be adjusted to cause a first in-content reference,provided within the streaming media signal, to be encountered at thecoordinated time during playback at each of the multiple mediaprocessors.

The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO) 510 withat least one super headend office server (SHS) 511 which receives mediacontent from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In thepresent context, media content can represent, for example, audiocontent, moving image content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games,virtual reality content, still image content, and combinations thereof.The SHS server 511 can forward packets associated with the media contentto one or more video head-end servers (VHS) 514 via a network of videohead-end offices (VHO) 512 according to a multicast communicationprotocol.

The VHS 514 can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an accessnetwork 518 to commercial and/or residential buildings 502 housing agateway 504 (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The accessnetwork 518 can represent a group of digital subscriber line accessmultiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service areainterface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links orcopper twisted pairs 519 to buildings 502. The gateway 504 can usecommunication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 506 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 508 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 507 (such as aninfrared or RF remote controller).

The gateway 504, the media processors 506, and media devices 508 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerlineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or other present ornext generation local or personal area wireless network technologies. Byway of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invokedbetween the media processors 506 and subsystems of the IPTV media systemfor services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 529 can be used in the mediasystem of FIG. 5. The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 500. In thisembodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 515 that include mediacontent can be received by a satellite dish receiver 531 coupled to thebuilding 502. Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver531 can be transferred to the media processors 506 for demodulating,decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the mediadevices 508. The media processors 506 can be equipped with a broadbandport to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network 532 to enableinteractive services such as VoD and EPG as described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 533 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system500. In this embodiment, the cable TV system 533 can also provideInternet, telephony, and interactive media services. The subjectdisclosure can apply to other present or next generation over-the-airand/or landline media content services system.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 530, a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing web portal services over the ISP network 532 towireline media devices 508 or wireless communication devices 516.

Communication system 500 can also provide for all or a portion of thecomputing devices 530 to function as a synchronization controller(herein referred to as sync controller 530) or a server 530 offeringaccess to a sync controller and/or sync application. The sync controller530 can use computing and communication technology to perform function562, which can include among other things, determining a coordinatedplayback time according to playback latency values at each of thedevices 506, 516. Alternatively or in addition, the media processors 506and wireless communication devices 516 can be provisioned with softwarefunctions 564 and 566, respectively, to perform a synchronizationcontrol function in place of the sync controller 530, or to utilize theservices of sync controller 530. For example, software functions 564and/or 566 can include a selectable feature to allow a user of eitherdevice 506, 516 to initiate a request for synchronized streaming mediaplayback. The software function 564 of the media processors 506 can beconfigured to measure or otherwise determine a first playback latency ofa streaming media signal at the media processors 506. Likewise, thesoftware function 566 can be configured to measure or otherwisedetermine a second playback latency of the streaming media signal at thecommunication device 516.

The software functions 564, 566 at each of the devices 506, 516 cancause the devices to provide the measured latency values to the synccontroller 530, which can determine a target latency value and acoordinated playback time according to the techniques disclosed herein.The sync controller 530, in turn, can forward the coordinated playbacktime and in at least some instances, identification of an associatedsecond in-content reference, to each of the devices 506. Upon receivingthe coordinated playback time, and identification of the secondin-content reference, when provided, each of the software functions 564,566 can compute a buffer value that when applied to a media buffercauses playback of the second in-content reference to occur at thecoordinated playback time at each of the devices 506, 516.

Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices overlandline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, mediaservices can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless accessbase station 517 operating according to common wireless access protocolssuch as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Accessor CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal MobileTelecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave orWiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and soon. Other present and next generation wide area wireless access networktechnologies can be used in one or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 500employing an Internet protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) networkarchitecture to facilitate the combined services of circuit-switched andpacket-switched systems. Communication system 500 can be overlaid oroperably coupled with the synchronized media playback networks of FIGS.1 and/or 2 and communication system 500 as another representativeembodiment of communication system 500. Playback latency valuesassociated with a streaming media signal can be determined for each of agroup of media processors. A target playback latency can be determinedthat is not less than a greatest one of the playback latency values, anda coordinated playback time can be determined according to the targetplayback latency. Buffers associated with the group of media processorscan each be adjusted to cause a first in-content reference, providedwithin the streaming media signal, to be encountered at the coordinatedtime during playback at each of the multiple media processors.

It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 4 can operate as wirelineor wireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 4 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 517, a femtocell, aWiFi router, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) baseunit, or another suitable wireless access unit to establishcommunications with the network 500 of FIG. 5. The cellular access basestation 517 can operate according to common wireless access protocolssuch as GSM, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS, WiMax, SDR, LTE, and so on. Other presentand next generation wireless network technologies can be used by one ormore embodiments of the subject disclosure. Accordingly, multiplewireline and wireless communication technologies can be used by the CDsof FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 602 which canbe hosted by server applications operating from the computing devices430 of the communication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. Communicationsystem 600 can be overlaid or operably coupled with the synchronizedmedia playback networks 100, 200 and/or the communication system 500 asanother representative embodiment of the synchronized media playbacknetwork of FIGS. 1 and/or 2 and/or communication system 500. Playbacklatency values associated with a streaming media signal can bedetermined for each of a group of media processors. A target playbacklatency can be determined that is not less than a greatest one of theplayback latency values, and a coordinated playback time can bedetermined according to the target playback latency. Buffers associatedwith the group of media processors can each be adjusted to cause a firstin-content reference, provided within the streaming media signal, to beencountered at the coordinated time during playback at each of themultiple media processors. The web portal 602 can be used for managingservices of communication systems 400-500. A web page of the web portal602 can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with an Internetbrowser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer™, Mozilla's Firefox™,Apple's Safari™, or Google's Chrome™ using an Internet-capablecommunication device such as those described in FIGS. 1-2. The webportal 602 can be configured, for example, to access a media processor506 and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR),a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog, an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG),or a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures, audiorecordings, etc.) stored at the media processor 506. The web portal 602can also be used for provisioning IMS services, provisioning Internetservices, provisioning cellular phone services, configuring mediasynchronization services and so on.

The web portal 602 can further be utilized to manage and provisionsoftware applications 562-566 to adapt these applications as may bedesired by subscribers and service providers of the synchronized mediaplayback networks 100, 200 and the communication system 500.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device 700.Communication device 700 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIGS. 1-2 and 5.Playback latency values associated with a streaming media signal can bedetermined for each of a group of media processors. A target playbacklatency can be determined that is not less than a greatest one of theplayback latency values, and a coordinated playback time can bedetermined according to the target playback latency. Buffers associatedwith the group of media processors can each be adjusted to cause a firstin-content reference, provided within the streaming media signal, to beencountered at the coordinated time during playback at each of themultiple media processors.

To enable these features, the communication device 700 can comprise awireline and/or wireless transceiver 702 (herein transceiver 702), auser interface (UI) 704, a power supply 714, a location receiver 716, amotion sensor 718, an orientation sensor 720, a local time reference,such as a clock 707 and a controller 706 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 702 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellulartechnologies can include, for example, CDMA-1×, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS,TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generationwireless communication technologies as they arise. The transceiver 702can also be adapted to support circuit-switched wireline accesstechnologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched wireline accesstechnologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP, etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 704 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 708 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device700. The keypad 708 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 700 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 708 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 704 can further include a display710 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 700. In anembodiment where the display 710 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 708 can be presented by way of the display 710 withnavigation features.

The display 710 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 700 can be adapted to present a user interface withgraphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by a userwith a touch of a finger. The touch screen display 710 can be equippedwith capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology todetect how much surface area of a user's finger has been placed on aportion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can beused to control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functionsof the user interface. The display 710 can be an integral part of thehousing assembly of the communication device 700 or an independentdevice communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface(such as a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 704 can also include an audio system 712 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 712 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 712 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI704 can further include an image sensor 713 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 714 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 700 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable applications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 716 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 700 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 718can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 700 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 720 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device700 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 700 can use the transceiver 702 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 706 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 400.

Other components not shown in FIG. 7 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 700 can include a reset button (not shown). The reset button canbe used to reset the controller 706 of the communication device 700. Inyet another embodiment, the communication device 700 can also include afactory default setting button positioned, for example, below a smallhole in a housing assembly of the communication device 700 to force thecommunication device 700 to re-establish factory settings. In thisembodiment, a user can use a protruding object such as a pen or paperclip tip to reach into the hole and depress the default setting button.The communication device 400 can also include a slot for adding orremoving an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)card. SIM cards can be used for identifying subscriber services,executing programs, storing subscriber data, and so forth.

The communication device 700 as described herein can operate with moreor less of the circuit components shown in FIG. 7. These variantembodiments can be used in one or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure.

The communication device 700 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 406, the media devices 408, or the portablecommunication devices 416 of FIG. 4, as well as the IMS CDs 501-502 andPSTN CDs 503-505 of FIG. 5. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 700 can also represent other devices that canoperate in communication systems 400-500 of FIGS. 4-5 such as a gamingconsole and a media player.

The communication device 700 shown in FIG. 7 or portions thereof canserve as a representation of one or more of the devices of thesynchronized media playback network of FIGS. 1-2 and communicationsystem 500. In addition, the controller 706 can be adapted in variousembodiments to perform the functions 562-566, respectively.

This Solution allows for time-synchronized video and/or audio playbackacross multiple devices in a single dwelling or area. Synchronization isachieved by taking into account the precise playback positioninformation (present within any media object or stream) and tying it tosystem-wide playback at a specific system time. The techniques disclosedherein allow persons within a presentation venue, such as a household,to watch a media stream, e.g., live, at different areas of the housewithout perceptible audio misalignments that might otherwise exists dueto the nature of processing digital video stream compression and longgroup of pictures and buffering needed to increase digital audio-videostream compression.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope of theclaims described below. For example, the techniques disclosed herein canbe extended to span more than one household, so friends or family cansynchronized their audio-video consumption and interact and enjoypresentation of the same media between them in a synchronized manner.Alternatively or in addition, the techniques disclosed herein can beused to synchronize/resynchronize media stream consumption in which oneor more digital recorders are involved. For example, persons in one roomcan replay a segment of a media stream, using the techniques disclosedherein to resynchronize with a broadcast of the program, e.g., a “live”feed, without disrupting the audio-video environment enjoyed by other'swithin ear shod and/or viewing range should the synchronization bebetween houses, or when switching to a second consumption digital devicefor extra content retrieval. Solutions can be expanded to alsosynchronize recorded media streams and/or media streams associated withcommunications. For example, the synchronization techniques disclosedherein can be applied to peer-to-peer communications, including unicast,e.g., two party calls, and/or multicast, e.g., multiparty calls.Application to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) applications candetermine a synchronization event, e.g., according to a SIP message,such as invite and/or join. Other embodiments can be used in the subjectdisclosure.

It should be understood that devices described in the exemplaryembodiments can be in communication with each other via various wirelessand/or wired methodologies. The methodologies can be links that aredescribed as coupled, connected and so forth, which can includeunidirectional and/or bidirectional communication over wireless pathsand/or wired paths that utilize one or more of various protocols ormethodologies, where the coupling and/or connection can be direct (e.g.,no intervening processing device) and/or indirect (e.g., an intermediaryprocessing device such as a router).

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 800 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods described above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the synchronization controller 116, 216, 530the media processor 104, 106, 204, 504, 506, 516 and other devices ofFIGS. 1-2 and 5-7. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected(e.g., using a network 826) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the subject disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 800 may include a processor (or controller) 802(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU,or both), a main memory 804 and a static memory 806, which communicatewith each other via a bus 808. The computer system 800 may furtherinclude a display unit 810 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flatpanel, or a solid state display. The computer system 800 may include aninput device 812 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 814 (e.g.,a mouse), a disk drive unit 816, a signal generation device 818 (e.g., aspeaker or remote control) and a network interface device 820. Indistributed environments, the embodiments described in the subjectdisclosure can be adapted to utilize multiple display units 810controlled by two or more computer systems 800. In this configuration,presentations described by the subject disclosure may in part be shownin a first of the display units 810, while the remaining portion ispresented in a second of the display units 810.

The disk drive unit 816 may include a tangible computer-readable storagemedium 822 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g.,software 824) embodying any one or more of the methods or functionsdescribed herein, including those methods illustrated above. Theinstructions 824 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 804, the static memory 806, and/or within theprocessor 802 during execution thereof by the computer system 800. Themain memory 804 and the processor 802 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

The computer system 800 can include a local time reference, such as alocal clock 807. The clock can be configured, e.g., set and operable tomaintain time with respect to a reference. The reference can becoordinated universal time, e.g., an external atomic clock, such as theNational Institution of Standards and Technology (NIST) Internet TimeService (ITS), or some other time reference, such as a coordinatednetwork time, e.g., as provided by a service provider. Network time canbe configurable according to a network time protocol, such as the SimpleNetwork Time Protocol (SNTP). The local clock 807 can be configuredperiodically, e.g., upon power cycles, daily, hourly, and so forth, tomaintain a desired accuracy with respect to a separate time reference.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices that can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Application specific integrated circuits andprogrammable logic array can use downloadable instructions for executingstate machines and/or circuit configurations to implement embodiments ofthe subject disclosure. Applications that may include the apparatus andsystems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronicand computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two ormore specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with relatedcontrol and data signals communicated between and through the modules,or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, theexample system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the subject disclosure, theoperations or methods described herein are intended for operation assoftware programs or instructions running on or executed by a computerprocessor or other computing device, and which may include other formsof instructions manifested as a state machine implemented with logiccomponents in an application specific integrated circuit or fieldprogrammable gate array. Furthermore, software implementations (e.g.,software programs, instructions, etc.) including, but not limited to,distributed processing or component/object distributed processing,parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. It is furthernoted that a computing device such as a processor, a controller, a statemachine or other suitable device for executing instructions to performoperations or methods may perform such operations directly or indirectlyby way of one or more intermediate devices directed by the computingdevice.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 822 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods ofthe subject disclosure.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) can be used bycomputer system 800.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Theexemplary embodiments can include combinations of features and/or stepsfrom multiple embodiments. Other embodiments may be utilized and derivedtherefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figuresare also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certainproportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodimentsshown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein,can be used in the subject disclosure.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining, by a processing system including a processor, a greater of a first playback latency of a streaming media signal comprising media content at a first media device and a second playback latency of the streaming media signal at a second media device; and determining, by the processing system, according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, a coordinated playback time at which a first in-content reference is to be encountered during playback; and adjusting, by the processing system, a first buffer and a second buffer to cause the first in-content reference to be encountered at the coordinated playback time by the first media device and the second media device respectively, thereby providing a synchronized playback of the first in-content reference at the first media device and the second media device.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating, by the processing system, a transfer of the coordinated playback time to the first media device and the second media device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first buffer is included in the first media device and is adjusted based on a first difference between the first playback latency and the coordinated playback time, and wherein the second buffer is included in the second media device and is adjusted based on a second difference between the second playback latency and the coordinated playback time.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying, by the processing system, a second in-content reference within the streaming media signal; determining, by the processing system, a reference time at which the second in-content reference is available for network transport to each of the first media device and the second media device; determining, by the processing system, a first playback time at which the second in-content reference is encountered during playback at the first media device; and determining, by the processing system, a second playback time at which the second in-content reference is encountered during playback at the second media device.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first playback latency is determined as a first difference between the first playback time and the reference time, and wherein the second playback latency is determined as a second difference between the second playback time and the reference time.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the processing system is coupled to a network element to receive the streaming media signal, and wherein the reference time is provided by the network element.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the coordinated playback time is responsive to a synchronization request generated by one of the first media device and the second media device in response to an event associated with the one of the first media device and the second media device.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding, by the processing system, a delay offset to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, wherein the determining of the coordinated playback time is according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency adjusted by the delay offset.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting is performed periodically according to a schedule.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronized playback is provided according to a predetermined accuracy.
 11. A device comprising: a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitates performance of operations comprising: determining a greater of a first playback latency of a streaming media signal comprising media content at a first media device and a second playback latency of the streaming media signal at a second media device; determining, according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, a coordinated playback time at which a first in-content reference is to be encountered during playback; facilitating a transfer of the coordinated playback time to the first media device and the second media device; and adjusting a first buffer of the first media device and a second buffer of the second media device to cause the first in-content reference to be encountered at the coordinated playback time by the first media device and the second media device respectively, thereby providing a synchronized playback of the first in-content reference at the first media device and the second media device, wherein the first buffer is adjusted based on a first difference between the first playback latency and the coordinated playback time, and wherein the second buffer is adjusted based on a second difference between the second playback latency and the coordinated playback time.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise: identifying a second in-content reference within the streaming media signal; and determining a reference time at which the second in-content reference is available for network transport to each of the first media device and the second media device.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the processing system is coupled to a network element to receive the streaming media signal, and wherein the reference time is provided by the network element.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the determining of the coordinated playback time is responsive to a synchronization request generated by one of the first media device and the second media device in response to an event associated with the one of the first media device and the second media device.
 15. The device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise adding a delay offset to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, and wherein the determining of the coordinated playback time is according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency adjusted by the delay offset.
 16. A machine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising: determining a greater of a first playback latency of a media signal at a first media device and a second playback latency of the media signal at a second media device; determining, according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, a coordinated playback time at which a first reference is to be encountered during playback; and adjusting a first buffer of the first media device and a second buffer of the second media device to cause the first reference to be encountered at the coordinated playback time by the first media device and the second media device respectively, thereby providing a synchronized playback of the first reference at the first media device and the second media device.
 17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations comprise facilitating a transfer of the coordinated playback time to the first media device and the second media device.
 18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first buffer is adjusted based on a first difference between the first playback latency and the coordinated playback time, and wherein the second buffer is adjusted based on a second difference between the second playback latency and the coordinated playback time.
 19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise: identifying a second reference within the media signal; and determining a reference time at which the second reference is available for network transport to each of the first media device and the second media device, wherein the processing system is coupled to a network element to receive the media signal, and wherein the reference time is provided by the network element.
 20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise adding a delay offset to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency, and wherein the determining of the coordinated playback time is according to the greater of the first playback latency and the second playback latency adjusted by the delay offset. 